Sarra Manning picks her new favourite releases

The second novel from the hugely talented Corrie Jackson, which sees reporter Sophie Kent embroiled in more crime and intrigue. When Sophie’s best mate Charlie is accused of murder she’ll do anything to prove his innocence. But how far will Sophie go for friendship, even if it puts her in grave danger?

(Bonnier Zaffre, £7.99, out November 16th)

The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa

Penguin Random House UK

A Japanese bestseller, The Travelling Cat Chronicles tells the story of Satoru, a young man takes his cat Nana on a roadtrip to visit three old friends to try and find a new home for the cat. This is an uplifting but heartwrenching novel and even though I am #TeamDog, I might even have squeezed out the odd tear as I read this book.

(Doubleday, £9.99, out November 2nd)

The Dreams of Bethany Mellmoth by William Boyd

Penguin Random House UK

A new collection of short stories from one of my favourite novelists – no one charts the highs, lows and loves of the human condition quite like him. I particularly liked the eponymous story, The Dreams Of Bethany Mellmoth about twenty-four year old Bethany Bellmoth who embarks on a year-long voyage of self-discovery.

(Viking, £16.99, out November 2nd)

East Of Hounslow by Khurrum Rahman

Harper Collins

Small time dope dealer Jay Qasim becomes an unlikely jihadi when he’s asked to spy for M16 in this very funny but tense thriller. Think Four Lions meets Phone Shop.

(HQ, £12.99, out November 30th)

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

Little Brown

With its UK publication pulled forward after Little Fires Everywhere hit the New York Times bestseller list as soon as it was released in the US, Celeste Ng is as hot right now as the title of her new novel. And Little Fires Everywhere is truly deserving off all the hype. Shaker Heights is a white picket fence, liberal suburb of Cleveland that is shaken up by the arrival of the unconventional and mysterious Mia and her daughter Pearl. The Richardsons and their four daughters are besotted with their new neighbours until a series of events pits Mrs Richardson against Mia with devastating consequences.

(Little Brown, £14.99, out November 9th)

A Field Guide To The North American Family by Garth Risk Hallberg

Penguin Random House UK

Two prosperous families, the Hungates and the Harrisons, live side by side in Long Island, New York and personify the American dreams of commuting to Manhattan, weekend pool parties and barbecues. But their picture-perfect lives only tell half the story and Garth Risk Hallberg uses prose and photographs to reveal the heartache in every dream home. This is a bit of a hidden gem, which reminded me of Leanne Shapton’s.

(Vintage, £12.99, out December 7th)

The House by Simon Lelic

Penguin Random House UK

When Jack and Syd find something gruesome in the attic of the dream home they’ve moved into, they decide to ignore it. Rookie error. Because when a body is found outside their back door, the police have them down as persons of interest. This one is not for the easily spooked.

(Penguin, £7.99, out November 2nd)

The Maid’s Room by Fiona Mitchell

Hodder

Set in Singapore, The Maid’s Room follows the lives of two Filipina maids, sisters Dolly and Tala, who work long hours as domestic servants for impossibly demanding employers. This is a fascinating, thought provoking and sometimes heartbreaking look at the wealthy ex pat lifestyle in Singapore and the exploited women who look after the children, take care of the expensive homes and live in tiny rooms along with the cleaning supplies.

(Hodder, £12.99, out November 16th)

The Unexpected Truth About Animals by Lucy Cooke

Penguin Random House UK

Subtitled 'a menagerie of the misunderstood,' this fascinating non-fiction book by zoologist and television presenter, Lucy Cooke, would have David Attenborough clutching his pearls. Who knew that lovable pandas were into rough sex? That penguins, far from being the monogamous, mate-for-life creatures that we’ve been led to believe with male Emperor penguins and female Humboldt penguins most likely to have a bit on a side. While those cartoon villains, the hyenas are actually the feminist icons of the animal kingdom.

(Doubleday, £16.99, out November 2nd)

The Standing Chandelier by Lionel Shriver

Harper Collins

A novella (weighing in at a Sunday afternoon-able 122 pages) from the author of We Need To Talk About Kevin and last year’s The Mandibles. When Weston Babansky gets engaged, his annoying best friend (she really is annoying) and favourite tennis partner, Jillian Frisk makes him a ‘Standing Chandelier’ incorporating many personal items from their long history. His betrothed, Paige, hates it and Weston finds himself caught between his best friend and his fiancée – one of them has to go. This is a light-hearted, exquisitely observed look at love and friendship that I wish had been longer.

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